Adam Warren pitches for New York, taking on the team that tops the majors in home runs. Maddon, who had stirred the pot throughout the course of this series, may not have openly admired the ability shown in Game Three. Blaine Boyer (3-5) allowed an unearned run in 1 1/3 innings.
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Robbie Ross Jr. finished for his fourth save and second in two days.
But this will be an added point of contention between the two teams for at least the rest of this season.
In Minneapolis, Kole Calhoun drove in the tiebreaking run in the 12th in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
Torii Hunter put the Twins ahead with a solo homer in the second off Matt Shoemaker (7-10).
Lester went six innings, and gave up four runs on six hits.
Martinez delivered a pitch that strayed up and in on Castro, and while the Cubs’ infielder was able to get out of the way his back forearm possibly did not.
In Toronto, David Ortiz singled home the go-ahead run in a five-run ninth inning.
The Cardinals took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Jhonny Peralta delivered a two-out sinle to left-center to score Matt Carpenter. Starter Dan Haren had worked the first 4.1 innings.
The Cubs again had another chance in the ninth. However, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak is “cautiously optimistic” Molina will be back before the playoffs, via Nightengale. Baltimore fell 5 1-2 games behind Houston for the second AL wild card.
Zach Britton pitched the ninth inning for his 34th save of the season. In the eighth, they loaded the bases with no outs. Molina was visibly pained after making the play, and was unable to finish the game (never a good sign with him). Peralta doubled to open the inning. Sure, the Cubs won two out of three, but that isn’t good enough for this team anymore.
The two batters that Kevin Siegrist faced in the eighth both reach, the final one on a walk. He tied a career high with 14 strikeouts in his last start.
Rizzo’s two-run single cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the third. They’ve got the Pirates to play this week, but before that they have the opportunity to beat up on the Brewers.
Xander Bogaerts also homered for the Red Sox.
Middle reliever Tommy Hunter (2-0) seized the mound win for Chicago.
Erasmo Ramirez (10-6) took the loss. Starting the year back with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, Baez slashed.324 /.385 /.537 in 70 games, and brought much of that stick with him as a September Cub call-up (.296 in 17 games).
Teheran’s bid was spoiled by Freddy Galvis’ leadoff single in the seventh.
Drew Van Hagen (2-0) collected the pitching victory for Detroit. Luis Garcia (3-6) took the loss. Hammel struggled last time out in a 5-4 loss at Pittsburgh with four runs scored in 3.2 innings. Tony Watson and Mark Melancon followed with ideal innings of relief, and Melancon got his 48th save.
The Pirates increased their lead over the Chicago Cubs in the National League’s wild-card race to two games while staying within four games of the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.
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CLEVELAND – Carlos Rodon pitched into the eighth inning and continued his mastery over Cleveland.
